Your Digital Detox Guide: Where to Go and How to Really Unplug on Vacation

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The best places and ways to break free from technology and return to our natural rhythm

Duration

Experts agree that the ideal digital detox is from five to seven days in length. “It may take a day or two just to get over the initial distress of missing messages,” says Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA.

Location

Studies have shown that vacations in natural settings are much more effective at restoring mind and body than urban ones. Here, the different effects of various environments:

coastal/water view: Dr. Mathew White, a lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical school, found in a 2010 study that people felt more positive and refreshed just by looking at the sea. Another study by White in 2012 demonstrated that living near the coast leads to improved physical health.

savanna: A 2010 study by John H. Falk and John D. Balling, former researchers at the Smithsonian Institution, showed that humans have an innate preference for savanna-like landscapes. According to Falk, early humans adapted to life on the East African savanna, where the open grasslands let them spot approaching danger, while scattered clusters of shrubs and trees allowed them to hide or escape from predators. These landscapes can still provide feelings of tranquillity and security.

woods: Studies reveal that a walk through the forest or any wooded area—between two and four hours for best results—can decrease anxiety and depression, lower pulse rate and blood pressure, and strengthen the immune system by boosting the activity of natural killer cells. Dr. Qing Li of Nippon Medical school, who has conducted numerous experiments, attributes the cells’ increased activity to the absorption of phytoncides, organic compounds given off by trees.

Tips

Take your detox during a slow time in the office to minimize whatever anxiety you may have about being unplugged.

No self-restraint? The University of Texas at Austin’s Russell Poldrack recommends leaving your phone at home. “One of the best ways to change your behavior is to engineer your environment for success,” he says. “Those urges go away over time, especially when you know the phone isn’t there.”

Consider doing a detox “light” your first time around: Small suggests allotting a half hour each day to attend to crucial issues. “Some people have a job or family situation where complete detox is not possible,” he says.

Stay occupied with meaningful experiences—reading a good book, enjoying physical activity, or spending time with welcome companions, Small says.

The first time is the hardest, says Poldrack, but it gets easier over time. “You get more out of it as you go along,” he says.

Set your out-of-office e-mail reply and don’t be afraid to delete unread e-mail messages when you return, Small suggests. “Every so often there’s something you need to pay attention to, but mostly not.” Any vital correspondence will likely be resent.